Berger 6.5mm Bullet season

[BigHorn WBY]

Been using a factory Savage 112 BVSS (now in a factory VLP stock) in 6.5x284 using the 140 Berger Hunting VLD

4th animal was harvested today. A mature Pronghorn doe at 686yds after I missed another at 930 due to poor wind doping.

Earlier this month, my older daughter and I had a two-fer (she shoots a buck at 410 and I take the rifle, work the bolt on the run and whack a doe at 325) on Pronghorn. Both where flatten at the shot. Sorry no camera.

On the 14th my Wife and I where hunting a unit that closes on the 14th. Has seen alot of hunting this season, but was FULL of muledeer. We seen a few small guys. Saw a whooper fork horn. We set up him at 733yds.....ranged him again, as I am getting ready it moves off. We watch for a few minutes to see what will develop. 10 or so minutes we decide to make a move on him. While packing up our junk (amazing how now-a-days we have to have a pile of trappings to kill a friggin' deer) ........... I got the pack, rangefinder, big spotter bino's.....wife has the rifle ........ and out of the canyon at our feet boils up a Mule deer buck. Not the biggest but in a heavy hunted public area ...... I can see he is a 4 or 5 yr old, see horns with some mass ...... tell wife to get on him ..... I yell, he stops at under 300, she shoots. Takes the shot center of ribs angling forward, exits in front of off shoulder. He makes it maybe 50yds. 2 hours to get him up to the truck.

 

[.260 james]

It indeed has been a good season, Time to put away the heavy prairie guns and get on the hillsides for those elk. I believe today was a a productive end of the prairie season. The antelope are even tired of the game and just stood there for a quick end. Poor s.o.b's have been chased all around Creation this month.

 

[BigHorn WBY]

For sure Bro ....... we got 2 more "Prairie Tags" then indeed it is Wapiti time. But then again that may well be a Prairie thing, but with a much lighter 6.5mm rifle.

 

[Roe]

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Terry]

Love it!

Thanks

 

[pdhntr]

Bighorn,

Have you shot any deer/antelope size critters at shorter ranges?

I am thinking of building a 6.5 X 284 for hunting. However, it would be used mostly for hunting deer in Wis. and most shots are under 100 yds here. I was thinking of using the Berger hunting bullet you are using and wondering how that bullet would work when the deer is close.

My main concern is the bullet coming apart with the higher velocity and short range. On occasion I have to take a shot regardless of the orientation of the deer, and the bullet has to be able to get through bone with some integrity.

I am interested in your opinion and others that have used the 140 Berger hunting bullet.

Thanks.

Jim

 

[KMart]

Nice mule deer! The stock looks familiar too.

 

[jonbearman]

All I can say is you are a lucky couple.I used to hunt with my wife and then she left.It was so much fun having her along.

 

[BigHorn WBY]

Bighorn,

Have you shot any deer/antelope size critters at shorter ranges? I am thinking of building a 6.5 X 284 for hunting. However, it would be used mostly for hunting deer in Wis. and most shots are under 100 yds here. I was thinking of using the Berger hunting bullet you are using and wondering how that bullet would work when the deer is close. My main concern is the bullet coming apart with the higher velocity and short range. On occasion I have to take a shot regardless of the orientation of the deer, and the bullet has to be able to get through bone with some integrity.

I am interested in your opinion and others that have used the 140 Berger hunting bullet.
Thanks.
Jim

Hey Jim,

In my NeverToBeHumbleOpinion I will tell you to go for it. Super accurate combo as well as plenty of power with managable recoil. Very easy to hit with. Bullet performance will be fine.

These are about the mid 50"s of animals I have been with when harvested. Shots have been from near muzzle to 1132yds. All have preformed as has been reported. The shortest and the longest I know of where also asking the most of the bullet. Both where the 210gr .30 cal. I shot a pronghorn doe at less than 50yds with a 30/378 and spotted for a pronghorn doe at 1132 with a 300win with a muzzle velocity of 2725. They had a velocity spread from over 3000 to under 1300ish. Both preformed very similar. In, expansion/tramua, exit.........
As for this 6.5 140, I get 3050 with 55grs H1000 in my 1 turn shorter than factory 26" barrel. I am still over 1600 at 1000yds. I have not personally shot anything "close" with it, thou have seen a few coup' de grace shots as well as a few "less than 100" shots to know I will not hesitate. My brother (.260James) has just used his 260 with the 130gr berger on a finisher and it exited. His is a 30" barrel and gets 6.5x284+ velocity.

That said I don't thinking I would use a 6.5 and a Berger to "Elmer Keith" a big bull Elk, but I have used the 180gr 7mm, as well as seeing the 300gr 338, 210gr 30, 185gr 30, 168gr 7mm as well as the dinky little 95gr 6mm used on Elk. All where very dead for there field dressing. I will not be carrying this Tank after Elk anyway. I have a little stainless Tikka in 6.5x55 for that. Using the 140gr Nosler Part at 2875fps.

 

[BigHorn WBY]

Hey Jim,

Off subject but more Berger results.

Had to dig around but here is a picture of my wifes first MD. Shot at around 200yds with a 95gr 6mm Berger from a .240wby.

Here is a quote from another forum post
"She was using her ULW .240 with a 3x9 Conquest and 95gr Bergers. At about 200yds she shot him directly on the shoulder (my instruction, field research) took the shot hard, never used that leg in the 20yds he was visible and dropped over a ridge line. Looked to be a heart (slightly low on shoulder) and head was down nearly on the ground.........Oh' it was indeed a heart shot. That little 95gr Berger was ugly in there, broke on shoulder, chopped off 3 ribs at brestbone, big rip in the heart, cut off one lung and exited behind off shoulder. "

That little 6mm was still faster than your (my) 6.5 is at the muzzle ..... so a little less velocity and 50gr more bullet, I am sure you will be fine.

 

[pdhntr]

BigHorn,

Thanks so much for the information.

It was exactly what I was looking for.

I have used Nosler Partitions for many years and they haven't let me down, not once. It is hard to "leave" a bullet with that much history. I am looking for a bullet that might have a little more accuracy and BC than the Nosler and still be reasonably constructed.

I am not going for elk with this caliber or bullet. I should be just fine.

Thanks again.

Jim

 

[.260 james]

The only negative I have experienced with Berger bullets is I usually throw a complete shoulder out on everything I shoot with them. Not the bullets fault, I have a mental block about high shoulder shots and every single time shoulder meat flies across the prairie. ;D

 

[BigHorn WBY]

The only negative I have experienced with Berger bullets is I usually throw a complete shoulder out on everything I shoot with them. Not the bullets fault, I have a mental block about high shoulder shots and every single time shoulder meat flies across the prairie. ;D

You sure did last night

 

[.260 james]

The only negative I have experienced with Berger bullets is I usually throw a complete shoulder out on everything I shoot with them. Not the bullets fault, I have a mental block about high shoulder shots and every single time shoulder meat flies across the prairie. ;D

You sure did last night

 

[Hondo64d]

I got this one Saturday evening on our opening day. 130gr VLD launched at 2884 from my .260. The buck was DRT, I mean did not even flinch.

Here's a few I shot with the same load last year:

Here's the rig:

Here's how it shoots with the same load that I used on the critters:

8" plate
5 consecutive shots
500 yards.

John

 

[Longrangeshooter1]

Bighornwby,

Glad to see you are using that 6.5 and that it's shooting well. I'm still waiting to see what those 180 gr Bergers do out of that wby hopefully find out soon since our rifle season is in. But iv had it out to 1000 and it shoots great.

 

[onelastshot]

Just picked up some Berger 140 VLDs, can't wait to work up a load for my 6.5 x 284. With a good month left for the Whitetail season I hope to get an opportunity or three to see what results the Bergers give me. I also picked up a box of HSM Trophy Gold rounds that use the Berger 140's just in case opportunity knocks before I get a chance to spend some time at the bench.

We've got 2 inches of fresh snow and another two on its way. Tomorrow morning should be perfect. All I have to do know is figure out which shoulder I want to throw out.